I enjoyed testing the under-seat and water bottle bike mounts for AirTags on our Tern GSD bike, and thought I should explore other mounting options.
This self-adhesive sleeve looks like a universal option, as it can be attached practically to any flat surface.
It has a silicone sleeve on one side and self-adhesive on the other.
Silicon sleeve with AirTagDetail of the slot
The self-adhesive layer seems to be a good choice. It is not extremely sticky as some other products, it does not seem to leave marks, and I actually managed to remove the case from the Storm Box on our Tern GSD bike, move it to a more suitable spot and re-apply it.
Self-adhesive layerThat sounds of peeling off the protective plastic sheet
It fits nicely inside the sleeve and as far as I can tell, there is no chance of it slipping out. The silicone keeps it from moving. In fact, it takes some effort to insert and remove the AirTag, which is great.
Fully inserted AirTag
There are many accessories available for the GSD. Storm Box is a great candidate for an AirTag in this sleeve. Mine is still holding tight. It has a few internal pockets and you can easily attach a dozen of AirTags to it and still have some space left for more;-)
Tern GSD with Storm Box
Bottom of the front rack might also be a good place for an AirTag.
A word of caution
Wherever you mount it, please keep your own safety in mind. Don’t mount it near the motor or anywhere near the chain/belt. It might cause you some bumpy ride should the self-adhesive fail.
Where can I buy one?
I bought mine on eBay and it was very affordable. Here is a link if you are considering getting one or two.
Other bike mounts
If you are looking for inspiration, I tested an under-seat and water bottle bike mounts. Here are a couple of photos and you can find more of them in the respective blog posts.
Water bottle mount with more mounting options available on the GSDUnder-saddle mount
I’ve recently tested an under-saddle mount. On its own, it is an easy target and it can be easily found if the thief knows where to look. To make the most out of AirTags, I also have one inside my Storm Box.
To complement the two, I am now also using this AirTag mount, which can either sit between your water bottle and the bike frame. Alternatively, if you do not have a bottle, it can sit directly on the frame secured using the bottle holder bolts.
Mounted using the “too-easy-to-spot” water bottle boltsLet’s unzoom to put its size into perspective
Let’s play hide and seek!
Here is where the GSD comes to the rescue. It has a couple of other mounting options with the exact same distance between the bolts as the water bottle bolts.
Can you spot the AirTag?What about now? Look between the pedal and battery.
Note the two silver bolts inside the triangle on the right hand side. They can be used for this AirTag mount.
Assembly and installation
It is super easy to install. The original Tern screws are too short. So, let’s replace them with the 2 bolts supplied with the mount. The only tool you need is a standard hex head 3 mm screwdriver bit.
On Tern GSD Generation 2, you can choose between the upper or lower position. Personally, I prefer the upper one.
Installed in the upper positionInstalled in the lower positionIt is not much thicker than the AirTag itself
Where can I buy one?
I am in the UK and I purchased one on eBay. Here is the link if you want to check it out and get yours.
What other mounts are available?
I’ve also tested an under-saddle mount. You can see more photos of it and read more about it here.
Comparison of the under-saddle and water bottle mounts
If you ever experienced the helpless feeling of returning to an empty spot at the bike rack, you know how it feels when you realise that your bike has been stolen. I’ve been there twice. When Apple introduced AirTags, I thought that I should attach a couple to my bike and see how well they work. Here is my real-life test from iPhone SE user’s perspective if you are interested in the user experience and location accuracy.
AirTag does not come with any mount, let alone one suitable for bikes. So, I purchased a few and tested them.
This under-saddle mount caught my eye, and became my favourite.
It is practically invisibleThe rear handle on the saddle remains fully accessibleOnly a very close look allows you to spot itBottom of the saddle
Why/why not this mount?
Compact size
Easy to install under your saddle – I tested it on Tern GSD Generation 2
You won’t notice it, unless you know what you are looking for
Ideal placement from Bluetooth radio perspective with not too many metal parts around it
Very affordable
It is 3D printed, which means that its surface is not 100% smooth. This is expected and nothing to worry about, considering the mount spends most of its life under the saddle.
Assembly and installation
Bolts are supplied with the mount. The only tool you need is a standard hex head 3 mm screwdriver bit.
All it takes is 3 boltsAssembled mount
Here is a tip for you: Remove the saddle from the bike, put it in between your thighs and install the mount. This makes it really easy with no bolts flying around.
Saddle beforeSaddle with the AirTag mountI can’t see it, can you?A very close look
Where can I buy one?
I am in the UK and I purchased it on eBay. Here is the link if you want to check it out and get yours.
Summary
As I mentioned, this mount is my favourite. Having said that, I recommend attaching another AirTag or two to your bike. I am testing a couple of other mounts and I will share the links here. Stay tuned, please.
Many people are talking about the Ultra Wide Band (UWB) precision finding supported by AirTags and the last two generations of iPhones. It is possible thanks to Apple’s U1 chip. This feature on its own might quite likely be a good enough reason for many users to upgrade to the latest iPhone.
Since I don’t own iPhone 11 or 12, I was curious what the experience was from iPhone SE or XR user’s perspective. Due to the lack of the U1 chip, these phones don’t support UWB and “Precision Finding”. Instead, they use Bluetooth and “Proximity Finding”.
“With You” Bluetooth accuracy and audible alarm
When the tag is “With You”, that means that your iPhone or macOS device can hear the Bluetooth signal beaconed by the AirTag. In this mode, location accuracy seems to be around 10 meters (depending on where it is and if indoors or outdoors). The lack of the UWB support means that the SE or XR can’t detect the direction you or the AirTag is moving in.
Since the AirTags is “With You” (shown in the screenshot above) and is reachable via Bluetooth, you can activate the audible alarm and find its exact location this way.
Active Bluetooth connection to the tag is required to activate Play Sound
Detached mode accuracy and refresh rate
When the AirTag becomes detached from your iPhone or macOS device (tag’s Bluetooth signal is lost), the tag then relies on other people’s iPhones and macOS devices. As soon as their device hears the Bluetooth signal of your lost AirTag, it relays (or reports if you will) the tag location to iCloud. Thanks to the crown-sourced relayed location, you will be able to see your tag’s current location in the Find My app although you are not anywhere the tag. The AirTag does not even have to be in the Lost Mode. Location finding works in its standard mode.
Location in the Find My does not update instantly. Based on my tests, it refreshes every 5 to 15 minutes.
When it comes to location accuracy relayed by other people’s iPhones and macOS devices, it ranges from approximately 10 meters to 110 meters.
Relayed location – accuracy around 10 metersRelayed location – accuracy around 110 meters
Can Wi-Fi-only iPads relay location?
No, they can’t. I tested a couple of iPads connected to Wi-Fi with Bluetooth enabled and placed them in close proximity of the AirTag. They did not relay location. As far as I can tell, only iPhones and macOS devices can relay location of a tag.
Can cellular iPads relay location?
I don’t know. Please test it if you have one and tell me;-)
Lost mode
In the unfortunate event of losing your item, you can switch the tag to the “Lost mode” and receive a push notification whenever the AirTags gets automatically reported by someone’s iPhone or macOS device.
Activate Lost Mode and push notification
When that happens location, you receive a notification. Currently, there seems to be a cosmetic bug as the text of the notification does not show the latest location of the tag, but its previous location. When you open “Find My” app, you will see the correct and latest location though.
Item found notification received on Apple Watch
My test setup
iPhone SE 2nd generation running iOS 14.5
MacBook Pro running Big Sur 11.3.1
iPad Mini 5th generation running iOS 14.5
iPad Air 2nd generation running iOS 14.5
What is your experience with AirTags?
I am curious what your experience was. Have you tested any other scenarios? Have I missed anything. Please do let me know in the comments and I will update the post.
